Golf practice device



States Patent GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Frank Scelzo, Jr., Hackensack, NJ.

Application April 6, 1956, Serial No. 576,582

6 Claims. (Cl. 273- 192) This invention relates to a golf practice device and more particularly to a device adapted to improve the users putting ability.

One object of this invention is to provide a simple device for guiding the stroke of a putter parallel to the desired line of movement of the golf ball. Another object of this invention is to provide a device which limits the length of stroke to a predetermined but adjustable length so that the user can become accustomed to the proper length of stroke for the desired putt.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device which in a single unit embodies a putter guiding means, a stroke length guiding means and a simulated cup. This device is easily set up and adjusted for practice in a small area such as the ordinary living room or kitchen.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a device of this type which is economical to manufacture and which can be readily commercialized. A more complete understanding of the advantages of the present invention will be appreciated by reading of the following description in association with the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one embodiment of the device;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device; and

Fig. 3 is a view taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The device, indicated generally at 1, comprises two parallel guide members 2 which are adapted to guide the stroke of the putter 3 therebetween and a partition 4 extending between the guide members adapted to be positioned at any desired point along the members. One method of'positioning the partition as shown in the drawings is a track 5 in form of an inverted T extending the length of each guide member 2. A runner 6, as shown also in the form of an inverted T, is attached to each end of the partition and adapted to slide along said tracks. A pair of screws 7 extend through the ends of the partition 4 and are adapted to clamp the partition at any desired position along the guide members.

A simulated cup or hole 8 is provided by the aperture adjacent the end and equidistant from the sides of a width of cloth material 9. When the device is being used the cloth material is pulled out beyond the ends of the guide members, as shown in Fig. 1, and when the device is not in use this width of cloth material 9 is rolled onto the roller 10 which extends between the guide members adjacent the opposite ends thereof. A rod 11 is positioned below the roller 10 and adjacent the bases of the guide members. The cloth material 9, when in use, is pulled down and around the rod 11 and then along the guide members so that the rod holds the cloth material adjacent the bases of the guide members.

To use this device the cloth material 9 is pulled from the roller 10 to a position as shown in Fig. 1. A golf ball 12 is positioned between the arrows 13 equidistant from each member. The user next positions his putter 2,894,755 Patented July 14, 1959 ice head 14 between the guide members. The length of the stroke is determined by the position of the partition 4 and this partition can be regulated as indicated above by sliding the runners 6 along the tracks 5. For convenience in measuring the distance from the arrows 13 to the partition indicia 15 are imprinted on the upper sides of the guide members.

The guide members 2 will be most effective if they adjoin the ends of the putter head 14. It is generally necessary to provide a means for adjusting the length of the partition 4 to accommodate difierent sizes of putter heads. As shown the partition is disconnected at its mid section and a joining member 16 is connected intermediate the two sidesof the partition with a means such as the screw and slot means 17 adapted to hold the partition in an adjusted position. In the embodiment where the partition 4 is adjustable in length it is also necessary to provide a means for adjusting the length of the roller 10 and the rod 11. Such means are illustrated in Fig. 3 where the roller 10 is constructed of two sections 18, 19 which telescope with a helical spring 20 provided to maintain the roller ends against the guide members. A similar arrangement may be provided in the rod construction by constructing it of two sections 21, 22, with a helical spring 23 and hold the telescoping rod between the guide members.

As an example of the use of this device the ordinary golfer should use approximately a 3 inch stroke to putt a golf ball approximately 3 feet. To practice this stroke with the present device the user would first adjust the length of the partition 4 to accommodate his putter head 14 and would set the partition 3 inches from the golf ball as indicated in Fig. 1 at indicia 3. The user could then strike the ball within the confines of the guide members and the partition and if the aperture 8 had been pulled to a position approximately 3 feet from the arrows 13, in theory at least, the golf ball would be stroked into the aperture 8. Thus it will be appreciated that the user will be guided in his putting stroke not only in length of back swing but also in the path of the stroke parallel to the desired line of movement of the golf ball.

It is to be understood that the device of the present invention may be constructed of any material.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A golf practice device comprising a pair of spaced parallel guide members, a partition extending transverse ly between said guide members and removably attached thereto, said partition being adapted to hold the guide members in fixed parallel relationship such that the head of a golf club may be inserted therebetween parallel to said partition, said partition incorporating a means for adjusting its length such that the spacing between said guide members may be varied to accommodate golf club heads of various sizes therebetween, a roller extending transversely between said guide members adjacent one end thereof and secured thereto, a roll of material positioned on said roller having an aperture equidistant from the sides of said roll and adjacent the outer end thereof, a rod extending transversely between said guide members beneath said roller and secured to said guide members, said rod being adapted to guide said material adjacent the bases of said guide members as it is unwound from said roller, said roller and rod incorporating means for varying their length as the spacing between said guide members is varied, and clamping means for positioning said partition at any desired setting along the length of said members.

2. A golf practice device comprising a pair of spaced parallel guide members, a track extending along the upper side of each of the guide members, a plurality of measuring indicia along at least one of said members, a.

partition extending transversely between said guide members and adapted to hold the guide members in fixed parallel relationship such that the head of a golf club may be inserted therebetween parallel to said partition, a runner attached to each end of said partition adapted to slide along said tracks, clamping means for positioning said partition at any desired setting along the length of said members, said partition incorporating a means for adjusting its length such that the spacing between said guide members may be varied to accommodate golf club heads of various sizes therebetween, a roller extending transversely between said members adjacent one end thereof and secured thereto, a roll of material positioned on said roller having an aperture equidistant from the sides of said roll and adjacent the outer end thereof, a rod extending transversely between said members beneath said roller and secured to said members, said rod being adapted to guide said material adjacent the bases of said members as it is unwound from said roller, and said roller and rod incorporating means for varying their length as the spacing between said members is varied.

3. A golf practice device comprising a pair of spaced parallel guide members, a track extending along the upper side of each of the guide members, a partition extending transversely between said guide members and removably attached thereto, said partition being adapted to hold the guide members in fixed parallel relationship such that the head of a golf club may be inserted therebetween parallel to said partition, a runner attached to each end of said partition adapted to slide along said tracks, said partition incorporating a means for adjusting its length such that the spacing between said guide members may be varied to accommodate golf club heads of various sizes therebetween, and clamping means for positioning said partition at any desired setting along the length of said members.

4. A golf practice device comprising a pair of spaced parallel guide members, a track extending along the upper side of each of the guide members, a partition ex tending transversely between said guide members and adapted to hold the guide members in fixed parallel relationship such that the head of a golf club may be inserted therebetween parallel to said partition, a runner attached to each end of said partition adapted to slide along said tracks, clamping means for positioning said partition at any desired setting along the length of said members, said partition incorporating a means for adjusting its length such that the spacing between said guide members may be varied to accommodate golf club heads of various sizes therebetween, a roller extending transversely between said members adjacent one end thereof and secured thereto, a roll of material positioned on said roller having an aperture equidistant from the sides of said roll and adjacent the outer end thereof, and said roller incorporating means for varying its length as the spacing between said members is varied.

5. A golf practice device comprising a pair of spaced parallel guide members, a track extending along the upper side of each of the guide members, a plurality of measuring indicia along at least one of said members, a partition extending transversely between said guide members and adapted to hold the guide members in fixed parallel relationship such that the head of a golf club may be inserted therebetween parallel to said partition, a runner attached to each end of said partition adapted to slide along said tracks, clamping means for positioning said partition at any desired setting along the length of said members, said partition incorporating a means for adjusting its length such that the spacing between said guide members may be varied to accommodate golf club heads of various sizes therebetween, a roller extending transversely between said members adjacent one end thereof and secured thereto, a roll of material positioned on said roller having an aperture equidistant from the sides of said roll and adjacent the outer end thereof, and said roller incorporating means for varying its length as the spacing between said members is varied.

6. A golf practice device comprising a pair of spaced parallel guide members, a partition extending transversely between said guide members and removably attached thereto, said partition being adapted to hold the guide members in fixed parallel relationship such that the head of a golf club may be inserted therebetween parallel to said partition, said partition incorporating a means for adjusting its length such that the spacing between said guide members may be varied to accommodate golf club heads of various sizes therebetween, a roller extending transversely between said guide members adjacent one end thereof and secured thereto, a roll of material positioned on said roller having an aperture equidistant from the sides of said roll and adjacent the outer end thereof, said roller incorporating means for varying its length as the spacing between said guide members is varied, and clamping means for positioning said partition at any desired setting along the length of said members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 826,759 Branch July 24, 1906 1,545,648 Fletcher July 14, 1925 1,567,530 Macnaughton et al Dec. 29, 1925 

